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Dozens accused in internet predators bust

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BATON ROUGE - Authorities announced dozens of people were arrested during a two-month long operation in Louisiana targeting internet predators.

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said "Operation Broken Heart" led to 36 arrests in April and May. Caldwell said most suspects were charged with possession or distribution of child porn. Some also faced charges of aggravated rape, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, indecent behavior with juveniles, and failing to register as a sex offender.

The initiative involved 16 different law enforcement agencies on the federal, state, and local level, many of which are involved with the AG's Cyber Crime Unit in the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Cyber Crime Unit has made 95 total arrests in the past 12 months, and participated in 20 of the 36 arrests from Operation Broken Heart.

"I appreciate the hard work and commitment of the investigators and forensic examiners in my office, as well as the efforts of our ICAC partners in Louisiana, to make a significant impact on Internet crime since the task force was established in 2001," Caldwell said. "I hope that offenders understand that law enforcement agencies statewide are working together every single day to find them and put them behind bars."

For more information about the accused individuals, including mugshots and booking details, click here.

The ICAC task force held a similar Operation Broken Heart last year. To report suspected cases of internet crime, call the AG's Cyber Crime Unit at 1 (800) 256-4506.